was revealed in Paul, and Paul preached that Christ, and what he found in him, to the people. God owns the one, but never will own the other. I then endeavoured to shew how God shined into the hearts of his own at first, to manifest the evil, and then, in the face of Christ, how he appeared glorious in his grace and favour to poor sinners, and in every saint this was a treasure of knowledge he would never quite lose and also in every such minister it was a treasure indeed; but when they were using this treasure of knowledge, by grace given, all that went beyond what they could say, was of God's power, and nothing could be done for good in the souls of any, unless this was added; so that we are nothing, and God is all! Yours affectionately, TO THE SAME. ISAAC BEEMAN. DEAR MARY, Nelson Square, September 20, 1830. You of course expect a few lines according to custom. Although on Saturday my cough was very troublesome, yet on Sunday morning I was not troubled with it, which was wonderful to me. I also felt very free in prayer in the morning, and think many hearts that know God for themselves know also whence these good waters of the sanctuary flow. All was very quiet in a considerable congregation. The first part of my subject was one that, I believe, they seldom hear handled as God led me into it: it was an old text, Psalm lxxxix. 14-16. "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth [in the salvation of God's elect] shall go before thy face." This was stated as shewn at the fall of man, and in the distribution of justice and judgment, both to the righteous and the wicked, to this day, and will be so to the last, and at the day of judgment also but particulars I must wave. In the afternoon my cough became troublesome, and I was rather hoarse. In the evening I did not feel so well in prayer, nor so much life in speaking: there were rather more present than in the morning. I mentioned mercy, and whence it flowed; truth also, and that these kept pace together; for that mercy would never flow but where Christ, as the way, the truth, and the life, was known, or where he was truly set forth. The joyful sound was the glad tidings of a Saviour, Jesus, which, at his birth, was ushered in by an angel from heaven : "Good tidings of great joy unto all people, that a Saviour was born, which was Christ the Lord." Peter and the rest of the apostles, when the sound of a rushing wind came from heaven and filled them all, then began to give this joyful sound; and from that day the word sounded out : " and their sound went out into all the earth." Christ evidently set forth as crucified-dying, the just for the unjust to save the chief of sinners, is joyful news to a soul sensibly burdened with sin, when once sent home to the heart by the Holy Ghost; and blessed are all they that know this sound under his divine teaching. Head knowledge in these things brings nothing in, but his teaching of this joyful sound brings the benefits of Christ Jesus into the heart and draws the whole soul to him. These souls are evidently blessed of God: and, first, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest ; they, in consequence of God's choice of them in Christ Jesus, being predestinated to the adoption of children, are blessed with the out-pouring of the Spirit upon them, to distinguish them as Christ's seed. When he comes he convinces them of sin the chastening of God follows; and blessed are such, for they are to find rest in the finished work of Christ Jesus; "blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, and to whom God will not impute sin." They are to know this joyful sound" of sinners saved and sins forgiven," and which cannot be known but by believing in Christ, by sin's being blotted out, and not to be seen as standing against us,-by rest, through faith in Christ, from the burden of them, and from fruitless labour under them: also by the sense of mercy bestowed, as in the case of the publican, who, when under guilt, could not lift up his head: but when mercy has forgiven all, we lift up our face to God without spot. Again, sin separates between God and us, nor can we get nigh, nor into friendship with him, but by the death of Christ. We are made nigh by his blood who were far off by our sins. Also a soul blessed with forgiveness loathes himself when God appears pacified towards him; and, without this, he cannot find peace nor walk in the light of God's countenance, nor, without this, can he love God; for he that hath much forgiven loveth much. The frowns of the face of God, or the reproofs of his countenance, are seen and felt when he rebukes for sin, and we, under this, are afraid we shall perish for ever; but when he shines into the heart, and gives us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God (as a sin-pardoning God) in the face of a crucified Christ, this is lifting up the light of his countenance, and in the light of this, at that time, we walk. Yet changes will come; but such, at the long run, shall walk in it for ever. "And the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it." They are lifted up from the dust, as the beggarprodigal was when the Father kissed him, the best robe clothed him, and the shoes and ring adorned him. He was then put among the princes, and such have the promise of a throne of glory. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in." "And in thy righteousness shall they be exalted," from a beggar on the dunghill to a prince, and then to a throne. Upon the right hand of the King stands his Queen, clothed in gold of Ophir, and introduced there in raiment of needlework; he hath wrought out and brought in everlasting righteousness, in which his Queen shall for ever be exalted. By his blood is she made clean; by his righteousness is she covered; by his Spirit she is all glorious within. Thus cleansed, arrayed, and adorned, she sits down at the marriage-supper and feasts with him for ever. She is now exalted in her Head and Husband, and made to sit together with him, as her representative, in the heavenly places; that, in the ages to come, the exceeding riches of God's grace, in saving her, may be shewn through what Christ Jesus has done for her. Ever affectionately yours, ISAAC BEEMAN. DEAR MARY, TO THE SAME. Nelson Square, Monday Morning, December 13, 1830. According to custom, you expect I should write on this day. My subject was the same as last Sunday's, at Cranbrook (Isa. lx. 14—18); but it was not old to me nor to some at Providence Chapel ; for, though I was flat before-hand, on account both of body and mind, yet it pleased God to strengthen my body, and, I hope I may say, to bless my soul; for I felt well in my first prayer; my heart was open, and the weight of God's salvation great. And when I began to speak, it was not long before I felt my subject afresh, with many additions, brought to my mind; the glory of Lebanon brought from the Jews to the Gentiles, attended with the conversion of thorns and briers, turning them into ever-greens, to beautify the Gentile church, God's dwelling - place: and his walking among these in the display of his own grace in their hearts; making, by his coming, the place of his feet glorious; was set forth, and they who had ever felt this glorious change had the evidence of its truth in their own hearts. Mr. A-, who sent me the letter, was at times broken down at the description; and, generally, great attention was paid to my subject the whole morning: I have heard of several who heard well, and not of the flimsy sort. My feelings were good, and power moved both my heart and my mouth: "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Hardly ever was any subject delivered by me with more power or more leisure, nor more conclusively so that, in private, I could but thank His |